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REVITALIZING THE BORDERLINES THROUGH ARCHITECTURE OF GREEN NETWORKING - CASE STUDY: BEIRUT, LEBANON
Get PDFBorders are an essential part of cities and countries, and they can create both physical and cultural divides. Inner-city borders can lead to social isolation and inequality, which can contribute to tensions and conflicts. Borders around the world have become a symbol of conflict, racism, fear, inequity, and division. One single line could divide between opportunity and hope and poverty and oblivion. Accordingly, some borders create social isolation between various cultures in cities that increase socio-political problems and remove urban connectivity. Green networking involves using urban green spaces, such as parks and gardens, to connect different areas of a city and facilitate movement and interaction between people. This research aims to examine the impact of inner-city borders on social integration between different cultural groups by using green networking to break down barriers and promote social interaction. The study will contribute to a better understanding of how urban green spaces can promote social integration and reduce inequality in inner cities. The study will use scientific methodology, including site visits, experimental examinations, and analytical research, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the borderline area of research
NEUROCOMPUTING AND INTERFACING DIGITAL TASTING SYSTEM: RESEARCH, DESIGN, AND EVALUATION
Get PDFThe continuous evolution in computing and interfacing has been extended to develop multi-sensory experiences in many domains such as neurological, auditory, vision, and haptic domains. So far, only a few remarkable system approaches have been approved to be serving the taste sensation digitally. Although taste sensation is linked to the brain, there is a lack of optimal neurocomputing digital taste sensation systems. Our study provides a new neurocomputing method to digitally stimulate the sense of taste by electrical stimulation on the human tongue. We aim to link chemical stimulation and electrical stimulation in order to design an electronic interface for inducing taste digitally. The design proposes a module that is responsible for electric and stimulation to produce different taste sensations. In addition, the taste is delivered through the tongue interface by silver electrodes, coupled with a control system responsible for generating specific stimulation parameters based on user inputs selected on his mobile. A spoon for implementing the taste interface is issued in order to provide a user-friendly tool as a solution for various problems. Experimental results showed that the new model and design of the digital taste system works well and testing results showed clearly that 90% of the tested members were able to distinguish the taste. Among the taste categories, the initial results recommended that sourness and saltiness are the most probable sensations that would be induced. Besides the Biomedical importance of the new taste system for people suffering from taste problems, (no sense of taste, bad taste in the mouth, diminished sense of taste, distorted sense of taste) and for people having diabetes and hypertension, this technology shows the possibility and could be considered for sharing tastes in social networking and adapting it in virtual reality, gaming and other domains, also the sensation of tastes could be improved by involving others senses such as olfactory and sounds and increasing the population of tested members
PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTING OF THE IDEA OF JUSTICE
Get PDFThe establishment of a legal system to combat injustice on the basis of justice is a perception which has accompanied mankind since ancient times. This perception remains unchanged as time and place are changeable. Justice is the general good that will regulate the relationship between the concepts of liberty and equality, which is manifold even in a single society. Although justice was at its core and its goals challenged by societies, the source of that idea varied from one sharia to another and from one people to another, especially since justice had emerged to govern relations between individuals in society on the basis of equality, and to compensate them for the harm that might be caused by others\u27 actions. Indeed, justice has been the focus of the attention of philosophers and ancient jurists who have tried to lay the foundation of the law on ideal foundations and origins. But the ideal goal did not remain on its first picture, from the impact of positive legal trends justice took another picture. As an objective pursued by the law, it has become a source of law aimed at amending and expanding legal provisions to become a reserve or supplementary factor relied upon when positive law is vacant which is why it has become an effective and essential factor in the development of the law This study presents the formative dimension of the phases of the concept of justice and its relationship with the philosophy of law, whether through concept or by processing, all of which we seek to point out the importance of the philosophical dimension of this concept, which has occupied the interest of philosophers and intellectuals
OPTIMIZATION OF THE BIO-SYNTHESIS OF MAGNESIUM NANOPARTICLES FROM STAPHYLOCOCCUS HAEMOLYTICUS: A PILOT STUDY
Get PDFNanotechnology is developing rapidly. This field has many influences in humans’ life. Nanoparticles (NPs) have many unique properties including the size, shape, morphology, and surface area. The synthesis of NPs could be achieved by three ways: physical, chemical, and biological. However, the biological synthesis of NPs has a priority on the other domains due to its safety and environmental friendship. In this regard, the main objective of this study was to synthesize magnesium (Mg) NPs from the bacterium S. haemolyticus which was isolated from the Lebanese wastewater. Different parameters were applied to detect the best conditions to produce the highest yield of the target NPs. The effect of the concentration of Mg nitrate solution was studied by applying 5 different concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mM). The effect of the concentration of bacterial culture was detected by applying 3 different concentrations (104, 108, and 1012 CFU/mL). In addition, the effect of the time of shaking incubation was revealed by applying four different timing (6, 24, 48, and 72 h). The characterization of the NPs was done by Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) in the range of 200 – 700 nm. The results revealed that the best Mg nitrate solution concentration is 3 mM, the best bacterial culture concentration is the standard 108 CFU/mL (0.5 McFarland), the best shaking incubation time is 48 h, and the best temperature is 37 ˚C. The UV spectra peaks were observed between 250 – 300 nm. The highest peak was observed at 275 nm. The highest absorbance recorded was 0.9 a.u. for the sample of 3 mM Mg nitrate concentration, 108 CFU/mL bacterial concentration, 37 ˚C temperature, and 48 h of incubation. Finally, after detecting the best conditions for the Mg NPs synthesis, they can be applied in different biological domains like anticancer, antibacterial, and against other different diseases
THE EFFECT OF WALNUT SHELL ASH ON THE PROPERTIES OF CEMENT PASTE AND MORTAR: A STUDY ON PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF CEMENT
Get PDFIn the pursuit of a more sustainable future, the utilization of agricultural waste in cementitious products has emerged as a popular and effective solution. The current study explores the feasibility of incorporating ash derived from walnut nutshells, considered agro residues, into eco-friendly blended cement paste and mortars to examine its impact on their properties. A range of blended cement mixtures was formulated by incorporating walnut shell ash (WSA) in three varying proportions of 5%, 10%, and 15% relative to the weight of the cement. Tests were conducted to investigate the properties of the blended cement paste and mortar incorporating WSA, covering consistency, setting time, compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), water absorption, and drying shrinkage. The addition of 5%, 10%, and 15% of WSA led to an increase in water demand by 33.6%, 37%, and 39%, respectively, compared to the control mix, which is 30%. Additionally, as the WSA content increased, the initial and final setting times decreased. For 15% WSA, the initial and final setting times reduced by 91.28% and 70.76%, respectively, compared to the control mix. WSA-blended mortars showed lower UPV values compared to the control mix at all ages. The addition of WSA to the mortar resulted in a reduction of compressive strength at all ages. At 28 days, mortar with 5%, 10%, and 15% of WSA showed a reduction in compressive strength by 11%, 22.6%, and 53.2%, respectively. WSA-blended mortar demonstrated greater drying shrinkage compared to the control mix at all ages, with 10% WSA exhibiting the highest shrinkage after 90 days. Mortar containing 10% WSA showed the highest water absorption after 28 days of curing, at 13.15%, which is 33.8% higher than the control mix
SIZE EFFECT ON THE OPTICAL RESPONSE OF CYLINDRICAL PALLADIUM NANOPARTICLES
Get PDFIn this work, a computational study is carried out to investigate the optical response of palladium nano-cylinders. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is employed using the COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS simulation program to calculate the scattering, absorption, and extinction cross-sections. The influence of the size of the cylindrical nanoparticles on their optical properties is discussed. The results are plotted for a broad spectral range of wavelengths from ultra-violet to infra-red of the incident electromagnetic wave on the cylindrical nanoparticles
URBAN WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION THROUGH LANDSCAPE DESIGN ENHANCING SOCIAL-CULTURAL CONDITIONS OF EL-MINA, TRIPOLI
Get PDFThe concept of waterfront revitalization has been a prominent notion in the field of urban planning and is considered an effective strategy to enhance deteriorated sites and inspire the identity and authenticity of communities. Nevertheless, there is no definite prescription for success when it comes to linking waterfront landscape design with improving the social and cultural site conditions in a deteriorating historical area. This paper examines the revitalization of the waterfront through greenway design in El-Mina, Tripoli, Lebanon in order to put emphasis on the local culture of the city and create socio-cultural opportunities for the area of study and better improve the quality of life of its residents. The research employs a mixed method approach, where both qualitative and quantitative methods are applied. The qualitative approach is based on theoretical study and the analysis of three case studies and the quantitative part of the study consists of both a survey and simulations to understand the various struggles and problems that the residents of the zone of study face and to find the optimum landscape design proposal that links the waterfront to the existing urban fabric along with sustainable environmental solutions to enhance the surrounding heritage context through the design of a Cultural Park that is applied on a lot by the city’s waterfront. A set of design recommendations regarding the connectivity of landscape waterfront spaces to heritage spaces were then issued and developed based on the synthesis of the simulation results and urban analysis
ARCHITECTURAL HYBRID (PHYSICAL-DIGITAL) PROTOTYPING IN DESIGN PROCESSES WITH DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGIES
Get PDFA digital twin is a simultaneous digital reflection of object processes and states. Digital twins are usually made of objects that exist in reality or which are very near completion in a design and production process. In our research, we investigate the potential of digital twin technology for early design. Key to the early application of digital twin in design is the role of information and simulation. Since design information is valuable for predicting the future of design, we assume that design will begin to change as digital twin technologies become more and more adaptable, as designers simultaneously have digital twins of the past, present, and future. Digital twin technologies have many capabilities to support the design process at various stages from concept design to the final design. Throughout this process, architects use digital and physical models. Combined with digital twin technology, these models form what we call hybrid prototypes. Estimating that simulation has a vital impact on the design process, we raised the question of what the potential of architectural hybrid prototyping in design processes with digital twin technologies is. Similar to the development of the design through increasingly informed and detailed models, we think that the closest thing to the design process with the digital twin is the so-called foetal, child, and adult digital twin. Based on this classification, we approach the concept of hybrid prototyping and digital twin
DIGITAL FRAMEWORK TO OPTIMIZE VISUAL COMFORT USING KINETIC FACADES
Get PDFVisual comfort is one of many aspects of human comfort that should be considered in architectural spaces. Visual comfort is an architectural necessity and could be achieved and optimized in spaces through controlling facades’ opening. This could be achieved by applying kinetic facades, which is one of the trends in the field of responsive architecture. However, the research’ s aim is optimizing visual comfort using kinetic facades in educational spaces. This optimization will improve the environmental quality of the educational space. In this research architects will achieve easily more effective kinetic facades to have better visual comfort by enhancing daylight quantity and quality using luminous environmental parameters’ measurement tool. In this research a series of scripts will be applied on various kinetic facades’ alternatives. These scripts will be based on a relation between different daylight and kinetic parameters. Thus, the outcome is to develop an Add-on, as a digital plugin, that will be presented through a friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI)
GAMIFYING ORIGAMI - RULE-BASED IMPROVISATION FOR DESIGN EXPLORATION
Get PDFOrigami, which originated as a folding paper game in Japan, has turned into a source of learning and inspiration for design and engineering studies. Complex two-dimensional patterns of origami sustain visual rules of space transformation. So, this paper proposes to gamify origami to get users more involved in the design space exploration process. For the gamification of origami, the study alters the origami patterns in a 3D modular composition with rules, scoring, and rounds in a design context. Gamifying origami becomes a tool for a learning experience for first-year architecture students in the early design phases. Accordingly, this paper presents a gaming experience model based on origami for the foundation studios. This model consists of three main stages: start, rounds, and finish. The teaching of the model is the mereological relationship providing continuity concerning improvisations with visual rules. The reward is the model complexity, such as folding numbers, and regular or modified folding. The penalty is losing scores if the continuity is not maintained. The presented experience model is performed twice in the foundation studios. The former is for understanding how much preliminary knowledge is required for the first-year students to grasp and complete the game. The second is for testing the experience. The results of the study prove the role of visual reflection-on/in action by creating pauses during the origami design and the importance of sustaining the visual inference with transformations between individuals to experience form to formation, complexity, unity, and creativity in origami design. This study would contribute to the literature on experimental methods for design pedagogy